To ban or not to ban
The idea of a national public place ban was floated in Geoffrey Palmer’s Alcohol in Our Lives report, and if legislated, it would withdraw Wellington City Council’s power on its own proposed 24/7 liquor ban in all public places throughout the city.
“The Liquor Control Bylaw is costed at $150,000 to $200,000, plus the actual time to do consultation,” says Pannett. “Why would we spend all this money now, if [Central Government] may replace it?”
Pannett was the only councillor to vote against the whole proposal, which is now open to public consultation until May 5.
The proposal was suggested after residents from a number of suburbs, particularly Newtown, complained about the effects of outdoor liquor consumption, such as property damage, intimidating behaviour, and litter.
But Pannett is concerned that the ban will have a displacement effect, and street drinkers will be driven to the suburbs.
“They’ll go inside the home, which will become an issue for neighbourhoods with loud parties and noise complaints,” Pannett says. “My main issue is the question, ‘why is this happening?’ hasn’t been addressed.”
The council is currently working on an Alcohol Management Plan, which takes a holistic approach to the issue of drinking. An extension to the liquor ban would form part of that.
However, Pannett says money should be spent on other parts of the plan, and an extended liquor ban should “be our absolute last option”.
The council’s manager of city safety, Laurie Gabites, says approaching an issue with many tools is the most effective way to do things.
“If the Liquor Control Bylaw becomes a reality, it’s because people are saying ‘drinking in a public place is not acceptable’. People have the ability to make a submission if they have an issue,” he says.
And although police have said they will use discretion, technically under the ban people having a glass of wine on the beach could be prosecuted.
“Why don’t you punish anti-social behaviour rather than punish everyone and take away their freedoms,” says Pannett. “It’s an old Victorian morality – don’t drink in public, but we want to drink at home, events or other spaces. Until our attitudes mature around alcohol, these measures aren’t getting to the roots of the problem.”
Make a submission to the Wellington City Council Liquor Control Bylaw before May 5 at www.wellington.govt.nz.
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